Bates with more offers

Wednesday

Jan 16, 2013 at 9:35 PM

Eric Guimaraes

Class of 2014 LB Dillon Bates of Ponte Vedra, FL already had offers from USC, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Maryland, UMass and Colgate before adding Florida, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Miami and North Carolina to the mix. Bates has 23 offers in all. USC recruiter Steve Spurrier Jr. was by his school to see him Wednesday. "He just came by to talk some football," said Bates. "Coach Spurrier (Jr.) just likes to stop by and see me when he is the area. We've got a good relationship." Bates does not have any favorites but does have a list in mind. "I haven't really narrowed my list, per se, but I've got about seven or eight schools in mind that seem to be showing me the most interest," he said. "South Carolina is definitely one of those schools." Bates recently participated in the Army All-America combine winning the defensive MVP. He was selected to play in next year's event. This spring he plans to visit USC, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida. "I want to see as many schools as I can," said Bates.